The Smurfocalypse chapter 39: The New Papa Smurf 3: The Dreams and Fire of Alchemy.
Brainy was sent out not long after the mentioning of a third Smurf being involved in this. He took this opportunity to return to the living room where Hefty was staying and talk to him. Meanwhile on the other side of town Alchemist Smurf had found the perfect place for his hut. A door down from the human apothecary building would stand his new hut where he could begin his practice once again in an ideal work setting. For some time he would also be able to make use of what little was left in the human apothecary. This was a lucky day for Alchemist as well as he had Handy with him to discuss the construction preferences.
"We Should be able to Smurf you a hut here just like the one you had back at the village." Handy said.
"How can I make sure some other Smurf wont stake a claim here?" Alchemist asked.
"Hefty and I have made a land claim process. I'll just tell the others you were here first, but you should mark it somehow just in case." Handy said.
"I don't think most Smurfs will want to live this far away from the well anyway." Alchemist said.
Most of the Smurfs were planning on living close together like they did back at the original village. For the most part it would be a cluster of mushroom huts with very few separated from the group. Alchemist chose this spot simply because looting the nearby apothecary would be easier. Architect had joined in on the conversation as well. Since their time together on Dreamy's voyage the two Smurfs have grown closer.
"Thinking about building here? It's a long walk from the well what if we need you and it's an emergency?" Architect asked.
"I… Never even considered that." Alchemist said.
"You can have as much time as you like to think. We still have a lot of work to do before we can get started building." Handy said.
In Smurf culture an alchemist could very well serve as a form of emergency service. Perhaps it would be smarter for him to build closer to the well in the center of town with the others. Realistically once the human medicine and medical supplies stop coming in he will be working with Doctor quite a bit. After all young as he is, King Gerard will not be in their lives forever. Humans do not live a very long time in comparison to a Smurf. Hopefully the day will come where all he will need to make is medicine for Doctor in between conducting his own experiments.
While the three Smurfs were chatting Doctor approached them from down the street and came around the corner of the alley where Alchemist had originally planned to build his apothecary/hut to find them as though he had been told where they were.
"Alchemist I need to speak with you alone real quick." Doctor said.
"Is it about where I chose to build? I was actually thinking of building closer to you for business purposes." Alchemist said.
"That's not a bad idea, but that's not what I need to see you about." Doctor said.
"…Am I dying?" Alchemist asked jokingly.
"Not that I know of." Doctor said.
Doctor led Alchemist behind the apothecary out of sight from other Smurfs.
"Papa Smurf wants to see you. He's awake an he specifically asked for me to find you." Doctor said.
"Why me specifically?" Alchemist asked.
"I have no clue, but he said it's important." Doctor said.
"So then why did you have to lure me all the way out here just to tell me that?" Alchemist asked.
"Papa Smurf wants the fact he's awake to be a secret for some reason. He never really explained why." Doctor said.
"I understand so Papa Smurf must have something important to tell me." Alchemist said.
"Only one way to find out. Come on. We can't keep him waiting." Doctor said.
Alchemist and Doctor took the reasonably long trek back to the house where once again Doctor would walk past Hefty who was just sort of chilling in the corner of the living the living room leaning against the wall and staring into the fireplace. Alchemist noticed him wearing the red hat and raised an eyebrow as they walked past. Through the kitchen once again where Chef was trying to work.
"How many more times do you plan on walking through my kitchen?" Chef asked.
"Oh relax an tend to your stew." Doctor said with a wave of his hand.
Chef was getting annoyed. The Smurf was trying desperately to work and was being interrupted continuously all day. He simply could not wait to have his own kitchen with his own equipment where nobody but him would be working. Doctor and Alchemist had continued down the hall past the kitchen. Down the hallway of course being the single door leading to the house's second bedroom where Papa Smurf was waiting for Alchemist eagerly.
"Come on up Alchemist. Sit down and let's have a chat." Papa Smurf said.
Alchemist scaled the bed and reached the top to find Papa Smurf wearing a white hat! First Hefty was wearing a red hat now Papa Smurf was wearing a white hat… What color hat should he be wearing?
"Um Papa Smurf… Did we switch color hats and I didn't hear about it?" Alchemist asked.
"Hehe no alchemist. I have something I have to discuss with you." Papa Smurf said.
"I noticed Hefty wearing a red hat, and now you're in a white hat." Alchemist said.
"I decided to pass leadership down to Hefty." Papa Smurf said.
This of course came as a shock to Alchemist.
"How come Papa Smurf?" Alchemist asked.
"The times have changed and Hefty has proven to me that he can lead the village in times of trouble." Papa Smurf said.
"Sooo… You want me to follow Hefty and actually see him as a leader? Over you?" Alchemist asked.
"That's correct Alchemist." Papa Smurf said.
"I don't think so." Alchemist said.
"You must. It's my decision to make not yours." Papa Smurf said.
"But why?! I don't understand! Why won't you continue to lead us?! You're not going to die Papa Smurf!"
"Alchemist please… Calm down." Papa Smurf said.
"Hefty can't lead us he has no wisdom or knowledge or any sort of skill. Why would you choose him at all? If anyone it should be Dreamy!" Alchemist asked.
"Dreamy's lifespan has been greatly shortened you know that. Tough as it may be to say he won't be with us much longer and I need someone I can trust will live to be as old as I am to be the leader." Papa Smurf said.
"But why did you bring me here to tell me this?" Alchemist said.
"It's about Hefty. I agree he is going to need some help, and so I decided that It'd be a good idea if my apprentice watched over him along with Brainy and I to see that he gets the help he needs to get started." Papa Smurf said.
"You need my help? I'll do anything for you Papa Smurf. I just don't understand your decision fully." Alchemist said.
"I've seen the things Hefty has been doing for us lately… Even in our darkest hour he remained calm and led us to safety. We are alive because of him, and he has built quite the positive reputation wouldn't you agree?" Papa Smurf asked.
"I guess your right on that part…" Alchemist said.
"The day will come when your potions will be the only potions in the village. You must use your talent to aid Hefty in times of need." Papa Smurf said.
"I just hope that day doesn't come for a long, long time." Alchemist said.
It was about that time that Doctor barged in and of course insisted that Papa Smurf needed rest. It would seem that would be the final Smurf Papa Smurf has the desire to see for now. Alchemist exited the room and Chef deeply sighed as they jokingly tip toed through the kitchen while staring at him blankly to get to the living room. He approached Hefty, but at this time Brainy was going on and on and on and on about what happened with Modest and the whole situation left a bad taste in his mouth. The Smurf exited the house and reached for an empty vial inside a pocket in his black cloak. He was going had some sort of idea in his head and was about to put it into motion just as soon as he could get to his materials, but alas the moment he got to where he had been keeping his stuff back at the apothecary building he heard Harmony's trumpet and figured that could only mean it was time for dinner. At least he really hoped that's all it was.